Several Malayalam filmmakers are getting ready to create a new cinema organisation. Association of Filmmakers for Progressive Change
An entity that will be known as the Progressive Filmmakers’ Association is going to be established by a group of filmmakers who have revealed that they have fundamental concerns with the way the Malayalam cinema industry is being managed.Filmmakers Anjali Menon, Lijo Jose Pellissery, Aashiq Abu, Rajeev Ravi, and Rima Kallingal, together with producer Bineesh Chandra, have all signed a vision note associated with the proposed group. This letter has began to circulate within the industry.
In the note, it is said that the new organisation would be founded on principles that place an emphasis on equality, cooperation, and social justice, and that it will work towards protecting the rights of all those who are involved in the filmmaking community.
Rajeev Ravi was quoted as saying that the establishment of such an association has been the subject of debate for some time.
It is still the case that the industry is managed in a feudal fashion, with a small number of individuals holding monopoly control. A change that is desperately required in the way things are being managed will be brought about by the association. Mr. Ravi stated that the conversations are still going on, and that it has not yet been registered.
According to the vision statement, the Malayalam cinema industry continues to be “tethered to outdated systems and practices,” despite the fact that it has made a substantial contribution to the cultural environment and economy of Kerala.
“A fresh start”
We are the basis upon which this industry is built, and as filmmakers, producers, directors, and technicians, we are responsible for the creation of jobs, the promotion of innovation, and the encouragement of creative thinking. Nevertheless, we frequently find ourselves navigating an environment that is not systematically organised and is fragmented, which is a significant distance from the progressive standards of modern industries. In order to realise our goal, we intend to come together under the umbrella of the Progressive Filmmakers’ Association, which will be the foundation of a new era for the Malayalam film industry. According to the letter, “This association will be built on the pillars of ethical responsibility, systemic modernisation, and empowerment of the workforce, with the goal of creating a workplace that is fair, just, and reflective of the values that we hold as a society.”
Following the publication of the K. Hema Committee report on the challenges that women face in the Malayalam film industry, Aashiq Abu resigned from the primary membership of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) Directors’ Union in order to protest the “failure of its leadership to take a strong position.” The news of the formation of the new association comes just a little over two weeks after Abu’s resignation.
According to B. Unnikrishnan, the general secretary of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), several members of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) had approached FEFKA in order to investigate the possibility of organising an actors’ trade union. This information was disclosed the previous week.